The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Vol. 17: The Development of Personality

Although this collection of Jung's writing focuses on the topic of childhood development, it functions as an excellent introduction to Jung's thought as many of the essays included address an audience that may not be familiar with his work. As he focuses on childhood development, he addresses various contexts that influence the formation of a child's personality and neuroses. One of the greater themes emphasized here is that of the overvaluation of sexuality. Jung feels that our religions' fixation on sexuality disrupts healthy psychological development. Keeping in mind his theories of psychic energy, if sexuality is not allowed to be expressed, it must find other means of expression. Jung writes that religion may be a self-fulfilling re-routing of energy that discourages sexual expression while monopolizing this energy to propagate the "false mother" of religion. The same phenomenon holds true for the "father state" where the masses are kept in an infantile sexual state, domineered by the Big Brother-like father figure. Jung goes on to explain how such influences affect the psyche as he has done elsewhere.Jung next addresses his methods and purposes behind his theory, which he says is ultimately to help people, intellectual understanding being a distant secondary motivation. As a medical doctor, this orientation stands to reason. In delivering this help, Jung mentions four methods for investigating the psyche of his patients, which are the association method (look for disturbances in the association experiment), symptom analysis (artificially reproduce memories), anamnestic analysis (historical reconstruction of neurosis) and finally, analysis of the unconscious, which is done through dream analysis. It is important to note that this is one of the greatest sources of Jung's own explanation at dream analysis as he usually differs all explanation and methods to Freud. In such an analysis, Jung does not apply a rigid system to the analysis but instead relies upon intuition, as each image and dream scenario is unique to the patient. ("To interpret dreams on the basis of a general theory, or on certain ready-made suppositions, is not merely ineffectual, but a definitely wrong and harmful practice." 163) Such a diagnosis comes directly from the patient and is not something that is prescribed.Getting more overtly into the topic of children, Jung writes that children are extraordinarily perceptive to the subtle emotions of their parents. A parent may say that nothing is wrong, but that is in essence trying to override what is most obvious with logic. Due to this attentiveness, Jung also states that the psyche of the child will be a direct manifestation of the psyche of the parents. The child essentially learns to occupy the mental environment of the parents regardless what the parents have to say. If a parent is either absent or projects their own unfulfilled desires onto the child, it often leads to disastrous results.Concerning education, Jung sites three kinds. The first is education through example. This can even function unconsciously as nothing needs to be said, nor does the teaching need to be intentional. Jung compares this type of learning to the ancient "participation mystique" of ritual, where participation taught un-spoken lessons. Collective education Jung states is education stemming from rules, principles and methods. This creates a social pressure to conform that guides an individual's behavior. In the case of individuals with weaker psyches, this can have disastrous results as they may identify too strongly with the external. Individual education then is more along the lines of catering each lesson to each child. I take this to mean (to a degree) that teaching should cater to each child's personality type as I just do not see any way to communicate one message meaningfully to both an INTP and an ESFJ at the same time.Jung notes that in the education of children, adults tend to reflect upon their own failings, realizing their own failures. Instead of investing energy in correcting their own failures, they instead assume that they can correct the next generation. The reasoning makes sense, but if one has not learned the lesson, how can he/she teach it? This seems to be a tremendous problem even in our education system today. Jung sees that people tend to give up on their own development and just try to do their best for their children with flawed methods. But children are not half as stupid as we assume they are and notice all too well the real lessons that are being taught. (170) Thus, if we truly wish to change our children, we must first change ourselves. Jung writes that there is no way to explain to a child that they should develop themselves in a certain way. Instead, children develop to accommodate causal necessity. Their personalities will develop where their environment directs them.This work is concluded with a section on marriage. Jung writes that most relationships seek competition of the shadow in a complementary fashion. People seem attracted to the elements of their psyche that remain unconscious. By thus joining with someone who compliments or completes you, the entire spectrum of the mind seems present. But when this is done, one's own shadow is often projected onto the partner, which can cause tremendous tension. This phenomenon can take a very positive orientation when the partners play the roles of container and contained. If one partner has a surplus of energy in one area and lacks the ability to focus, they can be attracted to another person who does have focus. The first partner then feels contained in a nurturing and supporting way adding stability to their psyche and to the relationship. Hopefully the individual will eventually realize that the container is not needed and they will develop their own stability, moving one step closer to individuation.I find that the article, Analytic Psychology and Education makes for an excellent supplement to Jung's Two Essays on Analytic Psychology. I feel that Jung is much more to the point with explaining some of this theories here. Also, he gives a very forward explanation of dream interpretation which is lacking in the other book. I strongly recommend this article as an introduction to Jung.

LOVE this book. It is very helpful as an introduction to personality development. I do recommend getting case studies by Jung to expand more on the topics in this book. You can go either way with the details; child psychology or development of personality. His writing is very clear, he uses examples to help get his point accross. This is a very good read and I highly recommend this book and seller.Item arrived on time and as described by seller.

Very insightful writing by C J Jung, he was most advanced on his of thinking parenting, if you want to understand your own self,a partner,a child,a parent or friend.....go back and learn about their early formative years. This book will help you to navigate that journey.

Excellent book and and amazing author.

This was a gift for my son who really likes Jungian ideas. He had put this on his wish list and was very happy to receive it.

The book is full of excellent advice and insights if the reader has in mind that the material is about a century old. The core of what Jung wrote here is still impressively relevant, though of course some things are outdated.If you're interested in education and jungian psychology and is not particularly knowledgeable of both, then this is highly recommended. Straightforward and not too scholarly or dense.

Jung essentially ceded developmental psychology to Freud et al. Piaget is well-known in this arena--though he isn't any easier to read than Jung IMHO. But, if you are deeply interested in Jung, you'll want to read the entire Collected Works (0691074763), the 3 books of Letters (one is 1/2 Freud--ed. McGuire, the other 2 ed. Adler & Jaffe), his autobiography (Memories, Dreams, Reflections) with Jaffe, his interviews (C. G. Jung Speaking, ed. McGuire), & "Man & His Symbols" with some of his major students--made for a more general audience. I did get a couple of good quotes from this book: p. 42 "Parents should always be conscious of the fact that they themselves are the principal cause of neurosis in their children" & p. 87 "Fanaticism is always a compensation for hidden doubt."

One of his weakest works, but still part of his whole. Many of his theories come from the asusmptions in this work. If you are looking to study him in depth than go ahead, if you are looking for his most stimulating ideas than you would probably do better with something a little less scholarly.

The entire series is must reading to understand the self and personal development. Many psychological problems begin in childhood and this volume gives an excellent introduction.

Excellent

All good!